U.S. patent application number 12/019388 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for object storage device having shaking function.
This patent application is currently assigned to THERMO ELECTRON LED GMBH. Invention is credited to Stefan Betz, Hubert Heeg, Klaus KAUFMANN, Helmut Loscher.
Application Number | 20080180842 12/019388 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39327080 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080180842 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KAUFMANN; Klaus ; et
al. |
July 31, 2008 |
OBJECT STORAGE DEVICE HAVING SHAKING FUNCTION
Abstract
The present invention relates to an object storage device having
shaking function having a vertically situated storage cassette,
which has multiple object storage points situated one on top of
another, and having a drive unit functionally connected to the
storage cassette via a first drive connection, comprising at least
one drive element for performing a shaking movement of the storage
cassette. The present invention also relates to a climatic cabinet
having such an object storage device.
Inventors: |
KAUFMANN; Klaus; (Muenchen,
DE) ; Betz; Stefan; (Erlensee, DE) ; Loscher;
Helmut; (Nidderau, DE) ; Heeg; Hubert;
(Moembris, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP
WASHINGTON SQUARE, SUITE 1100, 1050 CONNECTICUT AVE. N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-5304
US
|
Assignee: |
THERMO ELECTRON LED GMBH
Langenselbold
DE
|
Family ID: |
39327080 |
Appl. No.: |
12/019388 |
Filed: |
January 24, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
366/208 ;
366/209 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 35/00029 20130101;
B01F 11/0097 20130101; G01N 2035/00089 20130101; B01L 9/523
20130101; B01F 11/0014 20130101; G01N 2035/00524 20130101; B01F
11/0008 20130101; C12M 45/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
360/132 |
International
Class: |
G11B 23/02 20060101
G11B023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 26, 2007 |
DE |
DE 102007004072.7 |
Claims
1. An object storage device having shaking function having a
vertically situated storage cassette, which has multiple object
storage points situated one on top of another, and having a drive
unit functionally connected to the storage cassette via a first
drive connection, comprising a drive element for performing a
shaking movement of the storage cassette, wherein the drive unit is
also functionally connected to the storage cassette via a second
drive connection, the first drive connection being connected to a
floor area and the second drive connection being connected to a
head area of the storage cassette, and a control unit is provided,
which is implemented to synchronize the two drive connections.
2. The object storage device wherein according to claim 1, wherein
the first and second drive connections are opposite one another and
the first drive connection is functionally connected from below and
the second drive connection is functionally connected from above to
the storage cassette.
3. The object storage device wherein according to claim 1, wherein
the drive element is an electromagnetic drive.
4. The object storage device wherein according to claim 1, wherein
the drive unit is implemented to perform various shaking movements
and in particular to perform orbital, linear, and diagonal shaking
movements.
5. The object storage device according to claim 1, wherein the
drive unit has a first drive element and a second drive element,
the first drive element being connected to the storage cassette via
the first drive connection and the second drive element being
connected via the second drive connection, and the control unit
being implemented to synchronize the shaking movement performed by
the first drive element and the second drive element.
6. The object storage device wherein according to claim 5, wherein
the first drive element and the second drive element have identical
constructions.
7. The object storage device wherein according to claim 5, wherein
the drive unit and in particular the first drive element and the
second drive element of the drive unit are implemented as
moisture-tight.
8. The object storage device wherein according to claim 5, wherein
the object storage device wherein has at least two storage
cassettes, each of the storage cassettes having a first drive
connection and a second drive connection.
9. The object storage device according to claim 8, wherein the
control unit is implemented for separate control of the at least
two storage cassettes.
10. The object storage device according to claim 8, wherein a
fixing device is provided having a fixing element for fixing an
object and in particular a plate-shaped sample carrier in one of
the object storage points and having an actuating device, the
actuating device being implemented to adjust the fixing element
between a "fix" position and a "release" position, and the object
being fixed in one of the object storage points in the "fix"
position and being removable from this object storage point in the
"release" position.
11. The object storage device according to claim 10, wherein fixing
elements in multiple object storage points and in particular in all
object storage points of the storage cassette are adjustable in a
combined way between the "fix" position and the "release" position
via the actuating device.
12. The object storage device according to claim 11, wherein the
actuating device has a vertically situated actuating strip for the
combined switching of all fixing elements of the storage cassette
between the "fix" position and the "release" position.
13. The object storage device according to claims 10, wherein the
fixing element comprises a two-arm lever having a control lever and
a fixing lever, the control lever for switching the fixing element
from the "fix" position into the "release" position being
implemented as in contact with the actuating device and in
particular with the actuating strip, and the fixing lever being
implemented in such a way that it presses with at least a partial
area laterally against the object to fix the object in the object
storage point.
14. The object storage device according to claim 13, wherein the
two-arm lever is a leaf spring.
15. The object storage device according to claim 13, wherein, in
the "fix" position, the fixing lever encloses the object introduced
into the object storage point in the area of the object front edge
to prevent the object from slipping out of the object storage
point.
16. The object storage device according to claim 13, wherein the
fixing lever is spring-loaded in such a way that the spring loading
acts in the "fix" position of the fixing lever.
17. The object storage device according to claim 10, wherein the
fixing device is motor-driven.
18. The object storage device according to claim 10, wherein the
fixing device has a self-locking gear.
19. The object storage device according to claim 10, wherein the
fixing device has a locking device for locking the storage cassette
in a defined loading and unloading position, the locking device
being implemented in such a way that it locks the storage cassette
as long as the fixing element is located in the "release"
position.
20. A climatic cabinet, especially an incubator and particularly an
automated incubator, having an object storage device having shaking
function, wherein the object storage device is implemented
according to claim 1.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of German Patent
Application DE 102007004072.7 filed Jan. 26, 2007, the contents of
which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an object storage device
having a shaking function having a vertically situated storage
cassette, which has multiple object storage points situated one on
top of another, and having a drive unit functionally connected to
the storage cassette via a first drive connection, comprising a
drive element for performing a shaking movement of the storage
cassette. The present invention also relates to a climatic cabinet
having an above-mentioned object storage device.
[0003] An object storage device is understood in this context as a
device in which objects may be received at multiple object storage
points situated one on top of another in a tower. Multiple in the
meaning of the present invention particularly means more than five
and very particularly more than ten. Objects are very particularly
closed containers, mic rotitration plates, and similar containers
for receiving samples. An object storage device of this type is
known, for example, from EP 1 155 743 A2. It has multiple inserts
situated one on top of another in a stack for receiving sample
carriers, such as microtitration plates in particular. The
integration of a shaking function proves difficult here, however,
because in this object storage device the objects introduced into
the inserts are stored loosely in the object storage points and
thus may fall out of the retainers due to a shaking movement of the
storage cassette. Furthermore, object storage devices having
fasteners for objects are known, such as the tab-like positioning
elements, which project above the floor area of an object storage
point, of EP 0 725 133 A2. However, these do not allow shake-proof
locking of the object, but rather are exclusively used to ensure an
object is inserted completely into an object storage point. The use
of retention angles is known in the field of shaking units from EP
1 201 297 A1, for example. The object is placed from above in the
retention angle and held loosely by the retention angle in the
shaking unit, which shakes in the horizontal plane. The use of
retention angles is precluded for an object storage device having
multiple object storage points situated one on top of another,
however, because introducing the objects from above is
disadvantageous due to of the increased space demand, for example.
First improvement approaches in this context arise from DE 103 02
809 A1, which discloses the use of one-piece or multipart clamping
elements in the form of fixing angles. However, this attempted
solution also requires the introduction of the objects into the
object storage point from above, so that this device is only poorly
suitable for storing and shaking larger numbers of objects and/or
larger storage cassettes having multiple object storage points
lying one on top of another. In addition, ensuring uniform
distribution of the shaking movement over the entire length of the
storage cassette is problematic in the development of object
storage devices having multiple and in particular more than 10
object storage points per cassette. An uneven extent of the shaking
movement in the individual object storage points is particularly
problematic because the shaking results obtained are not uniform
over the longitudinal axis of the storage cassette and are thus not
reproducible.
[0004] The above-mentioned disadvantages arise particularly clearly
in climatic cabinets having such object storage devices, in which
multiple objects are stacked one on top of another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The object of the present invention is thus to improve the
handling and operation of an object storage device having multiple
object storage points situated one on top of another, in particular
in regard to uniform and reproducible shaking of all objects
situated in the storage cassette.
[0006] The object is achieved for an object storage device having a
shaking function having a vertically situated storage cassette,
which has multiple object storage points situated one on top of
another, and having a drive unit functionally connected to the
storage cassette via a first drive connection, comprising a drive
element for performing a shaking movement of the storage cassette,
in that it has a further functional connection of the drive unit to
the storage cassette via a second drive connection, the first drive
connection being connected to a floor area of the storage cassette
and the second drive connection being connected to a head area of
the storage cassette, and a control unit is provided, which is
implemented to synchronize the two drive connections. An essential
basic idea of the present invention is thus to integrate multiple
drive connections for the functional connection of the drive unit
to the storage cassette in the object storage device. A functional
connection in the meaning of the present invention is particularly
to be understood as a connection for transmitting drive power
generated by the drive element, such as a motor, for shaking to the
storage cassette. This may occur via a direct connection, for
example, via a gear, or, for example, also via magnetic
interactions which are triggered via the drive unit and are
transmitted to the storage cassette in the area of the drive
connection. Accordingly, a drive unit comprises at least one drive
element and possibly, for example, gear elements, etc., which are
used to transmit the drive power exerted by the drive element to
trigger the shaking movement of the storage cassette. According to
the present invention, the first and second drive connections are
connected to the storage cassette spatially separate from one
another. For this purpose, it is advantageous to space apart the
engagement points of the first and second drive connections as far
as possible from one another. In this way, it is possible to
transmit the shaking movement of the storage cassette not only on
one side, but rather on multiple sides, and in particular on two
sides to the storage cassette. An especially uniform shaking
movement which is homogeneous over the entire storage cassette is
thus executed. A further essential basic idea of the present
invention is the synchronization of the first and second drive
connections. This synchronization of the movements of the first and
second drive connections ensures that the storage cassette is
shaken uniformly over its entire longitudinal axis and allows a
torsion-free shaking movement of the storage cassette. It is
therefore possible to achieve especially good, reproducible shaking
results using an object storage device according to the present
invention, so that also storage cassettes having more than 10 and
particularly more than 15 object storage points situated one on top
of another may be shaken reliably and uniformly over the entire
storage area and in particular over the entire longitudinal
extension of the storage cassette.
[0007] The first and second drive connections preferably lie
opposite to one another in relation to the storage cassette, the
first drive connection being functionally connected from below and
the second drive connection being functionally connected from above
and especially preferably at diametrically opposite border areas to
the at least one storage cassette. A connection of the first drive
connection in the vertical direction of the storage cassette to the
upper head area of the storage cassette and of the second
connection to the lower floor area of the storage cassette is thus
especially preferred. A connection of this type of the first and
second drive connections to the front faces along the longitudinal
axis of the storage cassette is particularly advantageous, because
in this way an especially uniform shaking movement which is
homogeneous over the entire length of the storage cassette may be
ensured particularly well.
[0008] In an especially preferred embodiment, the drive element is
an electromagnetic drive. Electromagnetic drives are distinguished
by their particularly high functional reliability and their
comparatively simple construction.
[0009] The drive unit is implemented in an especially preferred
embodiment for performing various shaking movements and in
particular for performing orbital, linear, and diagonal shaking
movements. A drive unit of this type is advantageous because the
user may select between various shaking movements. Multiple shaking
movements may preferably be combined with one another, so that in
this way particularly outstanding shaking results may be
obtained.
[0010] It is preferable if the drive element may execute these
various shaking movements directly, because the use of complex gear
elements may thus be dispensed with. Typical shaking movements of
the present invention relate to movements of the storage cassette
in the XZ plane and/or in the horizontal plane. These are circular,
ellipsoidal, arcing, or zigzag shaking movements, or shaking
movements changing in a linear path, for example. In relation to a
rectangular floor surface of an object storage point, the movement
patterns may thus occur linearly or also diagonally, for example.
In addition, various shaking movements may be combined with one
another especially using a direct drive. Such shaking movements may
be obtained especially well using a drive element having the basic
action principle described in EP 1 201 297 A1, for example, in
which a shaking plate is directly driven by the action of magnets
and coils. Nearly arbitrary movement patterns may be executed in
the horizontal plane by this interplay of magnets and coils. In
addition, the magnetic direct drive of EP 1 201 297 A1 allows a
reduction of the moved masses. Especially this action principle of
a magnetic drive is thus particularly advantageous.
[0011] The drive unit preferably has a first and a second drive
element, the first drive element being connected to the storage
cassette via the first drive connection and the second drive
element being connected via the second drive connection, and the
control unit being implemented to synchronize the shaking movement
performed by the first and second drive elements. The use of
multiple drive elements allows the use of lower-power drive
elements, such as lower-power electric motors. This is particularly
advantageous for the use of an object storage device according to
the present invention in a climatic cabinet, and particularly in an
incubator, because low-power drives cause only a minimal
introduction of heat. In this way, the temperature control of the
climatic cabinet or the incubator is made significantly easier
and/or the temperature error triggered by the drive unit is
especially low, in particular insofar as essential components of
the drive unit are integrated directly in the
temperature-controlled inner chamber of the climatic cabinet or the
incubator. In addition, for example, comparatively high speed
ranges of up to 1500 rpm at an amplitude of 1 mm may be achieved
with a drive unit of this type.
[0012] An at least partially moisture-tight implementation of the
drive unit, and in particular of the first and second drive
elements of the drive unit, has particularly proven itself. This is
true especially for those parts of the drive unit which are
situated directly in the temperature-controlled area, such as the
inner chamber of a climatic cabinet and in particular the inner
chamber of an incubator, of the object storage device according to
the present invention. This special embodiment on one hand allows
the object storage device not only to be operated under dry
climatic conditions, but rather also under conditions having high
ambient humidity. Due to the moisture-tight embodiment of those
elements of the drive unit and in particular the first and second
drive elements, damage to these elements by condensing water is
prevented. On the other hand, the access to these components via
the inner chamber of the object storage device provides the
advantage to the user that these components are reachable directly
via the inner chamber, for example, for maintenance purposes, and
housing components, etc., do not have to be removed first.
[0013] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the first and second
drive elements are implemented having identical constructions. This
embodiment is preferable insofar as the synchronization of the
executed shaking movements is made significantly easier. In
addition, the number of different parts required for assembling
such an object storage device in the production process may be
reduced. Such an object storage device is thus also particularly
cost-effective to produce and maintain.
[0014] The object storage device preferably has more than one
storage cassette, particularly two storage cassettes, which may
preferably be shaken independently of one another. An object
storage device which has at least two storage cassettes, each of
the storage cassettes having a first and a second drive connection,
is especially preferred. In this way, the usage flexibility and
simultaneously the storage capacity of the object storage device
according to the present invention may be increased. The at least
two storage cassettes are situated adjacent to one another or also
one on top of another in the horizontal plane, for example.
[0015] Furthermore, it is usable in particularly manifold ways and
thus advantageous if the control unit is implemented for separate
control of the two storage cassettes from one another. The shaking
movements of the individual storage cassettes may thus be
controlled individually via the control unit in this embodiment.
This allows the stopping of the shaking movement of one storage
cassette, the second storage cassette being shaken further. As a
result, this embodiment is particularly user-friendly, because it
is possible to change objects in one storage cassette without
interrupting the shaking movement of the other storage cassette(s),
and simultaneously uniform and reproducible shaking results may be
obtained by the shortened interruption intervals.
[0016] To ensure an effective transmission of the shaking movement
of the storage cassette to the objects stored in the storage
cassette, in an especially preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a fixing unit having a fixing element for fixing the
object, in particular a plate-shaped sample carrier such as a
microtitration plate, in one of the object storage points and
having an actuating device is provided, the actuating device being
implemented to adjust the fixing element between a "fix" position
and a "release" position, and the object being fixed in one of the
object storage points in the "fix" position and being removable
from this object storage point in the "release" position. A fixing
element in the meaning of the present invention is thus at least
one component which may fix an object in an object storage point,
so that the object does not slip back and forth in the object
storage point, in particular in the course of a shaking movement
exerted on the storage cassette. This fixing particularly relates
to the fixing of the object in the object storage point in regard
to horizontal movements of the storage cassette, as were already
described above. The actuating device according to the present
invention allows an object fixed in the object storage point by the
fixing element to be removed insofar as the object may be taken out
of the object storage point after the disengagement of the fixing.
This is performed, for example, by pulling the object out of the
insert-like object storage point. An essential basic idea of the
present invention is thus the active monitoring of the positioning
of the fixing element by the actuating device. This is particularly
advantageous because disengagement of the fixing element is not
controlled by the object itself, as is the case with the retention
angles from the prior art, for example. By the active changeover of
the fixing element from the "fix" position into the "release"
position by the actuating device, rather, a changeover of the
fixing element executed independently of the object and/or
disengagement and fixing of the fixing mechanism without a movement
of the object in the object storage point is possible. The present
invention thus unifies multiple advantages at the same time. On one
hand, the object is fixed stationary and stably and particularly in
the preferably horizontal movement plane in relation to the storage
cassette in the object storage point especially during shaking of
the storage cassette. On the other hand, it is possible to
introduce and remove an object to and from the object storage point
easily and particularly without jerking, because the fixing
mechanism may be controlled actively and independently of the
object.
[0017] Fixing elements in multiple object storage points and in
particular in all object storage points of a storage cassette may
preferably be adjusted from the "fix" position into the "release"
position combined via the actuating device. Multiple and preferably
all fixing elements of a storage cassette may thus be switched
simultaneously and jointly from the "fix" position into the
"release" position by the one actuating device. The user has the
capability in this way of disengaging all objects fixed by fixing
elements in a storage cassette from the fixing in one work step.
This embodiment is particularly efficient because individual and
time-consuming disengagement of each individual fixing element of a
storage cassette is dispensed with.
[0018] In an especially advantageous embodiment, the actuating
device has an actuating strip situated vertically in the object
storage device for the combined switching of all fixing elements of
the at least one storage cassette between the "fix" position and
the "release" position. The control of the changeover of all fixing
elements to release the objects fixed in the individual object
storage points thus occurs in this embodiment according to the
present invention via a position change of the actuating strip,
which is preferably mounted so it is pivotable. Control via an
actuating strip has proven to be particularly reliable.
[0019] The fixing element of the fixing unit preferably has a
two-arm lever having a control lever, which is in contact with the
actuating device and in particular with an actuating strip to
switch the fixing element between the "fix" position and the
"release" position, and a fixing lever, which has at least one
partial area pressing laterally against the object to fix the
object in the object storage point. The fixing unit thus has a
lever function, via which the function of the fixing mechanism of
the fixing element is controlled. The control lever acts as a
control contact, in particular in operational connection to an
actuating strip, so that the positioning of the two-arm lever is
controlled by the actuating device via the control lever. In the
scope of the present invention, the actuating strip is particularly
a component which is implemented as strip-like and very
particularly allows the simultaneous activation of multiple control
levers of multiple object storage points. For this purpose, the
actuating strip runs essentially vertically along the storage
cassette, for example. The fixing lever is used for the direct
fixing of the object in the object storage point. For this purpose,
the fixing lever typically presses laterally against the object,
such as a microtitration plate, in the "fix" position, and presses
it laterally against a wall area of the object storage point
opposite to the contact side between object and fixing lever.
Furthermore, coatings and/or pressure elements may be present
between the fixing lever and the object, which finally transmit the
lateral fixing action of the fixing lever to the object in the
"fix" position. Coatings and/or pressure elements of this type may
additionally improve the position stability of the fixed object.
The fixing lever may thus act indirectly or also directly on the
object to be fixed.
[0020] The implementation of the two-arm lever as a leaf spring has
particularly proven itself. Leaf springs have a simple construction
and a high functional reliability and are additionally
comparatively cost-effective to produce. Leaf springs are thus
advantageous.
[0021] An implementation of the fixing lever in the "fix" position
in such a way that it encloses an object introduced into the object
storage point in the area of the object front edge to prevent the
object from slipping out of the object storage point is thus
particularly effective and thus advantageous. In addition to the
lateral fixing action of the fixing lever transversely and
particularly perpendicularly to the insertion direction of the
object into the object storage point, in this preferred embodiment,
an additional slip safety is thus provided, which prevents the
object from slipping out, in particular opposite to the insertion
direction of the object. For this purpose, the fixing lever
preferably encloses at least a part of the object front edge. The
object front edge relates in this context to the edge of the object
and in particular of the microtitration plate on the insertion side
of the storage cassette. This slip safety is preferably designed in
such way that a force acting in the insertion direction of the
object into the object storage point is exerted on the object by
the at least partial enclosing of the object front edge by the
fixing lever. This embodiment is particularly reliable in regard to
the stability of the storage of the object in the object storage
point, because the object is not only laterally clamped, but rather
additionally secured from undesired slipping out of the object
storage point. The slip safety and the fixing lever are preferably
implemented in one piece, so that the fixing lever exerts both a
lateral force and also a force acting in the insertion direction of
the object on the object in the "fix" position.
[0022] The fixing lever is preferably spring-loaded in such a way
that the spring loading acts in the "fix" position of the fixing
lever. Spring loading of this type thus has the result that due to
triggering of the actuating device, the fixing lever is moved by
the spring loading, which is achieved by a compression spring, for
example, back into the "fix" position independently of the
actuating device. An active changeover, for example, by the
actuating strip, of the fixing lever from the "release" position
into the "fix" position by the actuating device is thus not
required. This embodiment is advantageous because the actuating
device does not have to be implemented to reset the fixing lever
and thus may have a simplified construction.
[0023] A motor-driven fixing unit has particularly proven itself
for achieving the object. The motor-driven fixing unit is
advantageous because it is particularly user-friendly. The manual
changeover of the actuating device, which requires significant
force depending on the size of the object storage device, is
dispensed with here. It has been proven to be particularly
advantageous to equip the actuating device especially and the
actuating strip of the actuating device of the fixing unit in
particular as motor-driven. In particular in combination with the
above-mentioned spring loading, an especially user-friendly object
storage device results in this way, because both the fixing
triggered by the spring loading and also the release of the objects
triggered by the motor-driven actuating device run automatically
and do not require any manual intervention.
[0024] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the fixing unit has a
self-locking gear. By using a self-locking gear it is possible to
maintain the positioning of the fixing unit and in particular of
the actuating device in a simple way without continuous powering of
a drive being necessary, for example.
[0025] The combination of an object storage device according to the
present invention with the fixing unit described above thus
represents an especially elegant achievement of the object.
Specifically, the advantages of the above-mentioned fixing unit may
be unified with the advantages of the drive device according to the
present invention in this embodiment. Such an object storage device
allows reproducible and uniform shaking movements over the entire
longitudinal axis of the vertically situated storage cassette to be
ensured simultaneously very particularly well.
[0026] The use of one of the object storage devices according to
the present invention described above in a climatic cabinet and in
particular in an incubator has especially proven itself. It is
possible, for example, to use low-power motors with the
above-mentioned advantages due to the special drive device. The
above-mentioned object storage devices according to the present
invention having a fixing unit are also especially well suitable,
because of the simple operability and the high functional
reliability, for a climatic cabinet and very especially for an
incubator and in particular here an automated incubator, because an
automatic fixing and release unit may be combined especially
advantageously with automated loading and unloading of the stored
objects.
[0027] In this context, another refinement of the present invention
is also to be cited, which especially makes automated loading and
unloading of the object easier. In this refinement, a locking
device is provided, which locks the storage cassette in a defined
position, when the at least one fixing element is in the "release"
position and thus the stored objects may be removed or objects may
be inserted. To be able to be shaken, the storage cassette must be
mounted having a certain play. If the shaking procedure was simply
interrupted to remove or insert objects, the position of the
storage cassette would thus differ depending on the instant of the
stop of the shaking procedure. Automatic charging and removal of
the objects in and from the storage cassette in a precise position
would thus hardly be possible. According to the present invention,
a locking device is therefore provided, which brings the storage
cassette into a defined loading and unloading position upon release
of the fixing elements and locks it there. To avoid unintended
slipping of the objects, the storage cassette is expediently first
brought into the loading and unloading position before the objects
are released by changing over into the "release" position. After
the changeover of the fixing elements into the "fix" position, the
locking of the storage cassette is disengaged again, so that a
shaking procedure may be performed again. All procedures are
expediently controlled by the control unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] In the following, the present invention is explained in
greater detail on the basis of the exemplary embodiments
illustrated in the figures.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic exploded illustration to scale of
an object storage device;
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of an actuating
device having fixing elements;
[0031] FIG. 3a shows a schematic top view of an actuating device
having fixing elements in the "fix" position;
[0032] FIG. 3b shows a detail view of a horizontal section along a
fixing element in the "fix" position;
[0033] FIG. 4a shows a schematic top view of an actuating device
having fixing elements in the "release" position;
[0034] FIG. 4b shows a detail view of a horizontal section along a
fixing element in the "release" position; and
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a detail view of a horizontal section along a
leaf spring fastener between two fixing elements in the "fix"
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] In the embodiments illustrated in the following, identical
components are provided with identical reference numerals.
[0037] The object storage device 1 in FIG. 1 comprises a storage
cassette 2 having two vertically running side walls 3 and 4, which
each have, inter alia, a support 5 or 5' and a ladder-like side
wall plate 6 or 6', respectively. Diametrically opposite rail-like
guides 7 (solely indicated partially for the left side wall 3 in
FIG. 1) are situated in pairs on the ladder-like side wall plates 6
and 6' of the side walls 3 and 4, which are implemented for
inserting and guiding objects (not shown) and in particular
microtitration plates in the storage cassette 2. One guide pair
(i.e., one rail-like side of the ladder 6 and one rail-like side of
the ladder 6' situated at the same height (not shown in FIG. 1))
thus establishes one object storage point of the object storage
device 1. A spring plate 8 or 9 is situated above and below,
respectively, the side walls 3 and 4, which delimit the vertically
situated storage cassette 2 on the top (upper spring plate 8) and
on the bottom (lower spring plate 9) at the front faces. A drive
element (drive element 11 below the storage cassette 2 and drive
element 12 above the storage cassette 2) adjoins the swing plate 8
or 9 on the side opposite to the storage cassette in the vertical
direction (y axis in FIG. 1), which drives the shaking movements of
the storage cassette 2 in the horizontal plane (XY plane in FIG. 1)
synchronized by a control unit (not shown) and/or is functionally
linked to one of the two swing plates 8 or 9. The drive elements 11
and 12 are schematically indicated by the two boxes in FIG. 1. The
synchronization of the two drive elements 11 and 12 by the control
unit allows torsion-free and uniform shaking of the vertically
situated storage cassette 2 in the horizontal plane. This uniform
shaking occurs over the entire longitudinal axis of the entire
storage cassette 2. The drive elements 11 and 12 are
electromagnetic direct drives, whose fundamental implementation is
described, for example, in EP 1 201 297 A1, comprising magnets and
coils, the movement being caused by interaction of the magnet and
coils. The drive elements 11 and 12 are attached to a housing of a
climatic cabinet on the side facing away from the storage cassette
2 in the vertical direction (only the connection points to this
housing are shown in FIG. 1, the housing per se is not shown FIG.
1). Only the parts 14, 14', and 14'' of the housing are illustrated
in FIG. 1, the housing of the object storage device 1 nearly
completely enclosing the storage cassette 2 according to the
present invention in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and comprising
a passage area (not shown) closable using a door, through which
objects may be transported outward from the interior of the housing
and vice versa, for example, using a charging robot. Using the
object storage device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 in a climatic cabinet
(housing not shown), a movement of the objects stored in the
storage cassette 2 is finally possible under controlled climatic
conditions. For this purpose, in particular the two drive elements
11 and 12 are implemented as moisture-tight, a movement of objects
(not shown) stored in the object storage device 1 also being
possible under humid conditions, without condensed water being able
to penetrate into the drive elements 11 and 12 situated directly in
the climate-controlled internal chamber of the climatic cabinet
(not shown).
[0038] Furthermore, the object storage device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has
a fixing device 15 (shown in detail in FIG. 2), particularly
comprising a drive motor 16, two micro switches 32 and 33, a gear
having, inter alia, a threaded spindle 22, a dog nut 23, a forked
transfer element 26, and a pivot axis 28, an actuating strip 19
(eccentric strip), and multiple leaf-spring-like fixing elements 20
(only a selection of the leaf-spring-like fixing elements 20 are
expressly identified in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity). The
individual leaf-spring-like fixing elements 20 are connected to one
another and form a spring strip 21 in their entirety. The drive
motor 16 of the fixing device 15 is situated above the storage
cassette 2 and has a threaded spindle 22 according to FIG. 2 (the
thread itself is not shown in the figures), by whose rotation a dog
nut 23 having internal thread (not shown) is movable linearly along
the threaded spindle 22 in relation to the threaded spindle 22.
[0039] Further components of the object storage device identified
in greater detail in FIG. 1 are the cable bushings 102 and 103,
O-rings 104 through 106, the disk 107, the plate 108, sockets 109
and 110, the pin 111, the threaded pin 112, the alignment pin 113,
the rear insertion boundary 114, the threaded pin 115, supports 116
and 117 of the swing plates, the pin 118, the pressure strip 119,
the supports 120 and 121, the motor carrier 122, the ball bearing
123, and the adapter plate 124.
[0040] The perspective illustration in FIG. 2 relates to essential
components of the fixing device 15 from FIG. 1 and illustrates the
spatial configuration of the drive motor 16 of the fixing device 15
in relation to the actuating strip 19 and the leaf-spring-like
fixing elements 20 (for the sake of clarity, of all fixing elements
20 present in the actuating strip 19, only the three lower fixing
elements 20 are expressly identified in FIG. 2) and/or the spring
strip 21. The individual leaf-spring-like fixing elements 20 of the
spring strip 21 are each provided for fixing one object (not shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2) in one object storage point. The individual leaf
springs or leaf-spring-like fixing elements 20 are connected to one
another and form the spring strip 21 in their entirety as shown in
FIG. 2. Specifically, the individual leaf-spring-like fixing
elements 20 are situated like a comb in relation to one another in
their entirety, one comb tine and/or one finger (=one
leaf-spring-like fixing element 20) being provided for fixing one
object in one object storage point.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the drive motor 16 drives a rotational
movement of the threaded spindle 22, over whose thread course (not
shown) the dog nut 23 is guided, which is mounted so it is
rotatable in a torque transfer element 26. The transfer element 26
has a connection area 27 to a pivot axis 28, which is connected to
the actuating strip 19 (eccentric strip), diametrically opposite
the forked area of the transfer element 26. The dog nut 23 having
internal thread thus moves along the rotational axis of the
threaded spindle 22 having external thread due to a rotational
movement of the threaded spindle 22 around its longitudinal axis
driven by the drive motor 16. The linear movement of the dog nut 23
in turn causes a pivot movement around the pivot axis of the
actuating strip 19 via the transfer element 26. This pivot movement
is indicated by the arrow C-C' in FIG. 2. If the actuating strip 19
pivots toward the leaf-spring-like fixing elements 20 of the spring
strip 21 (arrow direction C), the actuating strip 19 first is
incident against a finger-like stop area 29 of the spring strip 21.
If the actuating strip 19 is pivoted further in this direction,
finally the leaf-spring-like fixing elements 20 are pivoted by the
actuating strip 19. The actuating strip 19 thus exerts an actuating
force on the leaf-spring-like fixing elements 20. The actuating
strip 19 is mounted so it is pivotable in its base area (bottom in
FIG. 2) in the storage cassette (not shown further in FIG. 2).
[0042] A further essential component of the fixing device 15 is the
spring strip 21 implemented like a comb, already noted, which
comprises one leaf-spring-like fixing element 20 per object storage
point. This strip is attached as shown in FIG. 1 to a side wall of
the storage cassette (to the ladder 6' of the side wall 4 in FIG.
1) using the fastening screws 36 (only one of the fastening screws
36 is identified as an example in FIG. 5). Each fixing element
comprises a control lever 41, which may be contacted by the
actuating strip 19 in the stop area 29, and a fixing lever 40,
which is implemented to fix an object stored in an object storage
point (not shown in FIG. 2). This is also only identified in
greater detail for one fixing element 20 as an example in FIG. 2.
The fastening screws 36 are guided through the spring strip 21 in
the area between the fixing lever 40 and the control lever 41
through a through opening 35 and thus fix the point of rotation of
the leaf-spring-like fixing element 20. By its pivot movement, the
actuating strip 19 may contact the spring strip 21, as a result,
the settings of all leaf-spring-like fixing elements 20 of the
storage cassette are jointly movable from a "fix" position, in
which an object located in an object storage point is fixed in its
position by the fixing element, into a "release" position, in which
the fixing of the object located in the object storage point by the
fixing element is canceled out. The detailed mode of operation of
the fixing device 15 from FIG. 2 is illustrated in greater detail
in FIGS. 3a through 5.
[0043] FIGS. 3a and 3b relate to the fixing device 15 in the "fix"
position, in which an object 24 (only a partial area of the object
24 is shown in FIGS. [number missing] and 4b), in the present case
a titration plate, is fixed in an object storage point. The
insertion direction of the object 24 into the object storage point
of the object storage device 1 is indicated by the arrow A. The
"release" position is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, in which the object
24 (also only partially illustrated in FIG. 4b) may be pulled out
of the object storage point in the direction of the arrow B. In
FIGS. 3a and 4a, some wall shapes of the object storage device are
also indicated by dashed lines. In regard to the fixing device 15
from FIG. 2, which is installed in an object storage device 1,
FIGS. 3b and 4b represent a horizontal section through the fixing
device along line I-I from FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 represents a
horizontal section along line II-II from FIG. 2.
[0044] FIGS. 3a and 4a represent a top view from above of a partial
area of the storage cassette 2 of the object storage device 1
having the fixing device 15 from FIG. 2. According to FIGS. 3a and
4a, the transfer element 26, which mounts the dog nut 23, which the
threaded spindle 22 passes through, so it is pivotable in the
movement plane of the storage cassette 2 and is connected via the
pivot axis 28 to the actuating strip 19, has a contact finger 31
for switch actuation of the switches 32 and 33, which are situated
diametrically opposite. The operating interval of the drive motor
16 is controlled via the switches 32 and 33, so that the dimensions
of the pivot movement of the actuating strip 19 as shown by the
arrow directions C and/or C' (from FIGS. 2, 3b, and 4b) are a
function of the contacting of the particular switches 32 and 33.
The pivot movement of the actuating strip 19 driven by the drive
motor 16 thus runs in the direction C up to the actuation of the
switch 33 by the contact finger 31 and in the direction C' up to
the actuation of the switch 32.
[0045] In the "fix" position shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the
leaf-spring-like fixing element 20 acts orthogonally and/or
laterally against the object 24 introduced into the object storage
point in relation to the insertion direction A and presses it
against the side wall area (not shown) of the object storage point
opposite to the fixing element 20. This action of the fixing
element 20 is caused by a compression spring 42, which is situated
on the side of the fixing element 20 facing away from the object
between a wall area of the side wall 4 and the fixing element 20.
The compression spring 42 acts on the fixing element 20 in the
direction of the arrow F (FIGS. 3b and 4b). It is also possible in
the scope of the present invention not to provide an individual
compression spring 42 for each object storage point. However, in
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, one compression spring
42 is situated in the object storage device for each object storage
point and/or for each fixing element 20 (however, in the sectional
view from FIGS. 3b and 4b, only one compression spring 42 is shown
in each case). On the side of the spring strip 21 diametrically
opposite to the compression spring stop area, in which the spring
strip 21 is implemented in a partial area parallel to the side wall
4 of the object storage point, on the fixing element 20, an
intermediate wall 34 is provided, which spatially separates this
area of the spring strip 21 and the inner chamber of the storage
cassette 2 housing the object 24. In the "fix" position, the fixing
element 20 of the spring strip 21 stops against this intermediate
wall 34 at this partial area, by which the dimensions of the
movement of the fixing element 20 in the fixing direction E' (FIG.
4b) are delimited. The fixing element 20 also has a wraparound 43
toward the insertion opening of the object storage point (on the
bottom in the sectional illustration from FIG. 3b), which encloses
the front edge of the object 24 (thus the titration plate in the
present case) facing toward the object storage point exit and,
through this wraparound, in addition to the fixing in the object
storage point, simultaneously presses it into the object storage
point in the insertion direction A. In the tip area and/or in the
area of the wraparound 43, the fixing element 20 thus projects into
the inner chamber of the object storage point in the "fix"
position. The fixing element 20 and/or the spring strip 21 is also
guided through the side wall 4 of the storage cassette in such a
way that it projects with a contact area into the pivot chamber of
the actuating strip 19 at the part of the fixing element 20 facing
away from the wraparound 43.
[0046] The spring strip 21 is mounted on the intermediate wall 34
so it is pivotable in the horizontal plane. Such a mounting may be
obtained using screws or bolts, which connect the leaf springs to
the intermediate wall as part of the side wall, because of the
spring properties of the spring strip. In the present exemplary
embodiment, the spring strip 21 has a fastening area 37 for this
purpose, in which a fastening screw 36 is guided between each two
object storage points through a through opening 35 of the spring
strip 21. Such a connection point is particularly visible from the
sectional view of FIG. 5 along line II-II in FIG. 2. According to
FIG. 5, the spring strip 21 is accordingly fastened using the
fastening screw 36 to a component, according to FIG. 5 to the
intermediate wall 34, of the side wall (in FIG. 5 on the side wall
4) for fastening. In the fastening areas of the spring strip 19,
the spring strip 19 thus does not have, in contrast to the areas
having the fixing element 20 at the height of the object storage
points, a leaf-spring-like fixing element 20, which is implemented
to fix the object in an object storage point, but rather
essentially only the fastening area 37.
[0047] To release the object 24, the actuating strip 19 is pivoted,
driven by a motor, around its pivot axis in the arrow direction C.
Due to this pivot movement, a stop area of the actuating strip 19
is incident on the stop area 29 of the spring strip 21 and presses
the stop area 29 in the arrow direction D. The spring strip 21 is
thus pivoted around its point of rotation, which is established by
the fastening screw 36 in the fastening area 37, into the "release"
position of the fixing element 20. Each of the fixing elements 20
is thus a two-arm lever having the fixing lever 40, which contacts
the object 24 to fix it and fixes it in the object storage point,
and the control lever 41, at which the actuating strip 19 impinges
against the spring strip 21. The fixing element 20 is thus pivoted
around its point of rotation and opposite to the compression spring
42 acting on the fixing lever 40 in the "fix" position by the pivot
movement of the actuating strip 19.
[0048] The movement sequences of the fixing lever 40, the control
lever 41, the actuating strip 19, and the compression spring 42 in
relation to one another are illustrated in greater detail in FIGS.
3b and 4b by the arrows C-F. The arrows C-E relate to the movement
directions of the actuating strip 19 (arrow C), the control lever
41 (arrow D), and the fixing lever 40 (arrow E) from the "fix"
position in FIG. 3b into the "release" position in FIG. 4b.
Accordingly, the arrows C', D', and E' relate to the movement
directions of the relevant elements from the "release" position
into the "fix" position. Arrow F indicates the direction of the
spring force exerted by the compression spring 42 on the fixing
lever 40 of the fixing element 20 in FIGS. 3b and 4b. An essential
feature of the configuration is thus that the actuating strip 19
finally pivots the fixing lever 40 in the direction E opposite to
the spring tension of the compression spring 42 due to a pivot
movement in the direction C and thus switches the fixing device 15
into the "release" position. Furthermore, the compression spring 42
presses on the fixing lever 40 in the direction F and thus moves
the fixing lever 40 in the direction C' back into the "fix"
position as soon as the actuating strip 19 is pivoted in the
direction of the starting position shown by arrow C' from FIG. 3b.
The actuating strip 19 thus indirectly controls the movement of the
fixing lever 40 into the "fix" position.
* * * * *